The Elegant Farmer is offering a family-friendly, old fashioned farm harvest experience at its annual Autumn Harvest Festival on Saturdays and Sundays, Sept. 12 through Oct. 25 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Area residents can stop by the Elegant Farmer’s orchard to pick from its 12 varieties of apples right from the tree. The orchard features favorite varieties like Wisconsin Granny Smith, Red Delicious, Empire, Cortland and Jonathan apples. The Elegant Farmer also offers the sweet Ida Red apples featured in its popular Apple Pie Baked in a Paper Bag.

“Red, yellow or green, tart, sweet or sour, the Elegant Farmer offers an apple guide to help those that come to pick to discover new flavors and remember their old favorites,” said the Elegant Farmer co-owner John Bauer.  “In order to select the best apples, you should know what you are going to do with the apples: eat or bake. Then you should consider the flavors you and your family like ranging from sweet to tart and how long you would store the apples.”

“Lastly,” Bauer added, “Try, try, try. Taste as many varieties as you can to discover your favorites.”

Enjoy beautiful fall colors aboard a tractor-pulled hayride, pony rides or vintage trolley ride. The East Troy Electric Railroad’s turn-of-the-century trolley departs Saturdays and Sundays from and returning to the Elegant Farmer Depot every 45 minutes.

The Elegant Farmer will also offer a family-friendly farm scene corn maze with easy in and out access for all ages. Corn maze admission is $5. Adding to the fun, the event features make-your-own caramel apples along with barbecue pulled pork sandwiches, hot dogs, warm cider donuts, slices of pie a la mode, homemade chili, chicken pot pie, loaded spuds, pickles and fresh apple cider.

The Elegant Farmer, 1545 Main St. (County Roads ES and J), is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. For more information, call (262) 363-6771 or visit www.elegantfarmer.com.

All about apples

Apples are ideally stored at 32 degrees with 90 percent humidity. Some varieties will be crisp and sweet for weeks, even months if stored in the garage, porch or basement.

Golden Delicious and Russets should be stored in plastic bags to prevent shriveling but the Elegant Farmer suggests still allowing the apples to breath.

The following are listed in order of those with the longest to the shortest freshness: Golden Russet, Spartan, Empire, Golden and Red Delicious, Red Rome, Ida Red, Wis. Granny Smith, Cortland, Jonathan, McCoun and McIntosh.